IFORS' Operational Research hall of fame Stafford Beer

Innovative Operational Research practitioner, intellectual leader in the development of systems ideas, and founder of the field of management cybernetics. Born: September 25, 1926 in London, England. Died: August 23, 2002 in Toronto, Canada. Education: D.Sc., University of Sunderland, 2000. Key positions: Production Controller and Head of OR Group, Samuel Fox (1949–1956); Head, Operational Research and Cybernetics, United Steel (1956–1961); Managing Director, SIGMA (1961–1966); Development Director, International Publishing Corporation (1966– 1970); Consultant (1970–2002). Awards and Recognition: Silver Medal, Royal Swedish Academy for Engineering Sciences (1958); Lanchester Prize, Operations Research Society of America (1966); McCullough Plaque of the American Society for Cybernetics (1970); Norbert Weiner Gold Medal, World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics (1984); Lifetime Achievement Award, UK Systems Society (1999); Honorary degrees: Doctor of Laws, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1988); Doctor of Economic Sciences, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (2000). Key OR roles: President, Operational Research Society (1970–1971); President, Society for General Systems Research (1971–1972); President, World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics (1970–the time of his death). Stafford Beer was one of the most remarkable figures that Operational Research (OR) in any country has produced. A charismatic, even flamboyant, character, he founded two major and pioneering OR groups; wrote some of the best books about the subject; and was a world leader in the development of systems ideas. He is widely acknowledged as the founder of the field of International Transactions in Operational Resarch.